We are moving into Numbers chapter seven with our word for today with both the verb and noun forms. קָרֵב get or come closer, approach, come forward, step up to, come near, offer. This is the verb used 280 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. קָרְבָּן offering, gift, sacrifice, something presented. This is the noun used 80 times in the Old Testament, 28 times in our chapter. Let’s look at some of both of the forms of our word in our chapter since it is used so much there. Numbers 7:1-3 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought קָרְבָּנָ֜ם [this is our noun] their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. וַיַּקְרִ֥יבוּ [this is the verb] They brought them before the tabernacle. It is interesting that on the very same day that the tabernacle was set up and dedicated the people were to bring their offerings. God wanted to start connecting with his people and they to him right away. These items were needed so the tabernacle worship could begin functioning right away. Numbers 7:10-11 And the chiefs וַיַּקְרִ֣יבוּ offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs אֶת־קָרְבָּנָ֖ם וַיַּקְרִ֧יבוּ [here we have both verb and noun together] offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said to Moses, יַקְרִ֙יבוּ֙ אֶת־קָרְבָּנָ֔ם [again we have both verb and noun together] “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.” Notice the instruction of each tribe offering their offerings one consecutive day after another. This allowed each tribe to participate in setting up and dedicating the tabernacle worship. This is a good thing because they would also benefit from the tabernacle worship as it was how God set up things for connecting with his people. We will look at the first tribe as an example of all of them that are listed in our chapter. Numbers 7:12-17 He קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ הַמַּקְרִ֛יב [here we have both our verb and noun together] who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. וְקָרְבָּנ֞וֹ [this is the noun] And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was קָרְבַּ֥ן [this is the noun] the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. A cursory reading of this long chapter (the longest in the Pentateuch) might give the impression that it contains nothing but repetition, for on twelve successive days each of the tribal leaders brought identical gifts. But we must not miss the point that God took notice of each gift, each leader, and each tribe on each successive day. In fact, each leader is mentioned twice, at the beginning of the report and at the end. The fact that God noted and recorded each name and each gift indicates His love for and interest in the individual believer. He knows our names. John 10:3 The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. He has recorded them individually in His heavenly register. When we stand before the Lord, He will see us individually, “and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5) and “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8). Nobody will be overlooked and nobody will be lost in the crowd. I’ll close with these great reminders. Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Philippians 4:3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
